Wife and husband Tania and Vincent Careme make one of the great white wine values in the Southern Hemisphere. It's their Terre Brulée Chenin Blanc, and I think it's the perfect introduction to Swartland Chenin. It's also just $12.99 and over 20% off through 9/27!
"Their entire range is a Chenin lover's delight." - Master of Wine Jancis Robinson
Talk about a dynamic duo. Vincent Careme grew up in his family's vineyards in Vouvray, and his wife Tania is a native of the South Africa's winelands. Monsieur Careme came to South Africa in the late-1990's to explore Chenin Blanc production there, as the grape was quickly becoming South Africa's most prolific white variety.
The rest, as they say, is history, as Vincent and Tania fell in love and have been together ever since. Today, they own one of the top estates in Vouvray, but they also find the time to make tasty Chenin Blanc from old, organic bush vines in the vibrant and exciting region of Swartland, along South Africa's western coast.
The Careme's Terre Brulée Chenin Blanc comes from 40-year-old, dry-farmed, and unirrigated vines planted in rocky soils. It is made with minimal intervention, in a truly artisanal fashion -- whole clusters, native yeasts, fermentations in a mix of stainless steel and large, neutral oak casks, and minimal sulfur additions.
I had a bottle recently and was quickly reminded that this stuff is exceptional. To my palate, it also qualifies for "extreme value" status. There's mineral, there's great texture to the melon, apple, and citrus flavors, and there's a nice degree of complexity here too. I think Wine Spectator's notes on the 2022 Terre Brulée sum it up perfectly:
"Shows a minerally waft of oyster shell on the nose but then a soft and creamy range of baked apple and plum, spun honey and macadamia nut on the palate, with just enough orange peel acidity to provide refreshing focus."
In case you didn't know, my wife is from Southeast Asia, and we eat a lot of curries -- red, green, and yellow. This wine loves that sort of cuisine, as the rich but dry fruit character tames the heat a bit, and the acidity cleanses your palate after each bite. Give it a try!
$12.99/bottle is the best price, it's a very good price, and I highly recommend you give this a swirl, sniff, and sip. On deal through September 27th.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville
